Pins cost Phantoms in mat loss to PV

PHOENIXVILLE - Amidst the atmosphere surrounding the 50-year golden anniversary of Phoenixville wrestling, Perkiomen Valley’s wrestlers still remained focus on the business at hand Friday evening.

The visiting Vikings won 10 of 14 bouts, including five via fall, to down the Phantoms, 48-18, in a Pioneer Athletic Conference meet.

“It was a long day for our kids,” said Perkiomen Valley coach Tim Walsh. “But it was nice to be a part of. It was nice for our kids to see history with a lot of success Phoenixville had. I am glad they askied us to be a part of it.”

Both Perkiomen Valley and Phoenixville are located along Route 29, and over the years the Vikings and Phantoms have had some close, interesting tussles on the mats that has created somewhat of a rivalry along with the geography.

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Perkiomen Valley claimed the first three matches, including two by fall, to take a 15-0 lead, and the Vikes were never headed.

Wyatt Gehman (160 pounds) and Alec Della Donna (182) secured the first two pins for Perkiomen Valley (1-0, 2-0). Before the night was complete, Luke DiElsi (285), A.J. Strickland (145) and Nick Giangiulio (152) also posted falls for the Vikings.

The Phantoms did not get on the scoreboard until Valenteen’s pin at 1:21 made it 15-6. But then the Vikings came through with another close verdict as Ryan Patrick edged Paul Hossler, 6-5, at 220 with four first-period points plus a second-period reversal.

After DiElsi’s 11-second slap at heavyweight, the Phantoms picked up three straight victories to slice the gap to 24-18. Garrett Serwatka blanked Brian Marshall, 5-0, at 106, and Eddie McCarthy was awarded a forfeit at 113. Austin Place decisioned Liam O’Brien, 12-6, at 120.

But then came a forfeit to PV’s Cole Gehman at 126 plus a pair of decisions for the Vikes. Derek Buckley won a 9-5 decision against Damien Davido at 132, and Tyrelle Robinson won a 7-4 decision against Trey Romance at 138.

Phoenixville coach Joe Youngblood talked about the special evening.

“It was a nice ceremony to honor some of our former wrestlers,” said Youngblood. “We got to see some young guys wrestrle. But we have to work to perform better. (The pins) That has been our downfall in the young year. We are giving up bonus points. In a close match, five pins is too hard to overcome.”

There were a lot of close matches, and we came out on the wrong side of most of them.”